Celebrating Malta in Armidale, Australia

"A weekend to remember" was a frequent comment heard at the end of a most enjoyable "Country of Study School" organised by the Country Women's Association (CWA) of New South Wales, held at the University of New England's Wright Centre (named after the eminent Australian poet Judith Wright) in Armidale, NSW, from February 2 to 4.

This year's gathering was the 37th such meeting, organised by this marvellous group of ladies from all over the state of New South Wales. Each year a different country is selected by the CWA for an in-depth "study" over an entire 12-month period, during which information on the subject country is collated as an exercise in self-acculturation. The latest subject country was Malta.

Generously hosted by the University of New England, the CWA of NSW invited speakers from the Maltese community of Sydney and Melbourne to talk on the subject of each individual's speciality. The three presenters from Melbourne spoke in turn on "Maltese women: their taboos and traditions" (Lou Drofenik), Victoria Borg presented "The island of Gozo: an anthropological approach" and Kylie Cassar Bartolo chose "Diabetes in the Maltese community".

The six speakers from NSW, not including Malta's consul-general, Joanna Pisani, who appeared in her official capacity, imbued the meeting's diversity with other selections from our way of life. Lawrence Dimech, former consul-general and staunch base of The Maltese Herald, the only surviving Maltese-language weekly in Australia, treated the audience to a detailed run-through of recent Maltese political history.

Victor Vella gave an overview of Maltese culture, leading the audience through various aspects of the Maltese character and way of life in a Mediterranean environment, while Mark Caruana, a history enthusiast, recounted early features of Maltese life in early Sydney town. The Maltese-Australian press, ably represented by the editor/owner of The Maltese Herald, came across as a vibrant entity reporting on the various happenings throughout Australia. A general reference to the journalistic picture within Malta itself completed the picture.

Alfred Fenech, a former trade consul, explained how a small enterprising country like Malta deals with a relative giant like Australia. Sealing the overall cultural scene of the Maltese way of life, I delivered an overview on Maltese language and literature, bringing together different aspects of our Maltese character.

At the official opening of the first evening, during a formal dinner featuring an exclusively Maltese menu, written in Maltese, the CWA, in conjunction with the University of New England's administration, treated their guests to bigilla and assorted pastizzi, lampuki biz-zalza tal-kappar, bragjoli fil-forn u patata mimlija and a traditional Maltese sweets - qaghaq tal-ghasel, biskuttini tal-lewz morr, mqaret and qubbajt - all washed down with locally produced New England wines.

David Ward, Master of Earle Page College, opened the evening's proceedings followed with the formal address by the University Vice Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew. The mayor of Armidale-Dumaresq Council, Peter Ducat, delivered a warm welcome. Grace was said by the Rev. Linda Boss, of the CWA. Consul-general Joanna Pisani welcomed the entire gathering to Malta and Pat Irving, State International Officer for NSW responded just as enthusiastically.

After three most fruitful days of discussing Malta and the Maltese, Judy Richardson, state president of the CWA of NSW, gave an emotional farewell on behalf of this unique movement of Australian ladies' solidarity.

Two other noteworthy features of this weekend of study on Malta at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW, Australia, were the book entitled Malta, CWA Study Guide, an impressive overview of our island nation, and the musical group Skorba which presented a concert of traditional Maltese folk music as researched from various archives.

Towards the end of the evening, the CWA presented us with a A$1,000 donation to a Maltese charity of our choice. There is also a strong possibility that these ladies will organise a trip to Malta, in which case we formally and publicly urge the authorities concerned, especially the Malta Tourism Authority, to look after these enthusiastic Australians who hosted us so generously.